Memory Lane’s Winter Rarities Auction was a resounding success, kicking off the year in spectacular fashion with total sales surpassing a staggering $7.1 million. The event, which showcased an array of vintage sports cards and memorabilia, attracted strong bidding activity from collectors worldwide.
Babe Ruth stole the spotlight at the auction, with three 1933 Goudey cards graded PSA NM/MT 8 collectively fetching nearly $700,000. Among them, the #149 card featuring a red background commanded an impressive $316,736. A rare advertising card from around 1920, featuring Ruth and Carl Mays and graded SGC 3, ignited a fierce bidding war before ultimately selling for $95,860. Other notable Ruth items included a 1921 E253 Oxford Confectionery card graded PSA 5, which sold for $52,102, and a 1932 U.S. Caramel card graded PSA 6.5, which brought in $48,508.
Not to be overshadowed, a 1915 Cracker Jack #103 Joe Jackson card graded PSA 7 set a new record for its grade, selling for an impressive $173,794. Part of a set break that generated over $850,000 in sales, the Jackson card was a standout non-Ruth item at the auction.
The allure of vintage cards continued with three 1952 Topps favorites, each graded PSA 8, crossing the six-figure mark. An Eddie Mathews high-number card led the pack, selling for $123,484, while Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays cards also commanded significant bids.
Mickey Mantle cards remained a hot commodity, with a rare 1959 Bazooka card graded PSA 6 fetching $33,586, and a complete 1959 Bazooka box featuring Mantle on the back, graded PSA 1, achieving $18,575. Additionally, four PSA 10 Bazooka Mantle cards from 1961, 1964, 1965, and 1966 collectively brought in close to $50,000. Other Mantle highlights included a 1953 Topps PSA 7 NM card selling for $29,012, a 1956 Topps Gray Back PSA 8.5 for $38,879, and a 1966 O-Pee-Chee Mantle SGC 9 card realizing $16,886.
In the realm of baseball and multi-sport collectibles, highlights included a 1957 Topps Willie Mays PSA 9 card selling for $58,961, a 1957 Topps Whitey Ford PSA 10 card fetching $56,153, and a 1965-66 Topps Phil Esposito rookie card graded PSA 10 that sold for $72,455. Football enthusiasts also had their share of excitement, with notable sales like the 1964 Topps Bobby Bell rookie PSA 10 at $31,558, the 1964 Philadelphia Merlin Olsen rookie PSA 10 at $19,018, and the 1973 Topps Art Shell rookie PSA 10 at $20,432.
Beyond cards, the auction featured unique memorabilia that caught the eye of bidders, including a Ty Cobb Tobacco tin from the 1910s selling for $30,463, a Mickey Mantle single-signed baseball with a rare “#6” inscription at $20,934, a handwritten letter from Mantle’s 1951 rookie season also at $20,934, and a Joe Jackson Louisville Slugger decal bat from the early 1900s fetching $16,121.
Memory Lane’s Winter Rarities Auction set a high standard for the year 2025, with record-breaking sales and exceptional items leaving collectors eagerly anticipating the next chance to own iconic pieces of sports history.
